Tests and Exams

Regular and Non-Commercial Driver's Licenses

Vision Exam

Your eyes will be tested by means of a mechanical device. The minimum acceptable vision is 20/60 in one eye, with or without corrective lenses, and a field of vision of, at least, 140 degrees. Upon failure of the field vision exam the applicant will be required to have a DS-274 completed by a licensed practitioner.

Knowledge Exam

The Knowledge Exam consists of two tests – the Road Rules Test and the Road Signs Test. The applicant must pass each test. A minimum score of 15 out of 20 correct answers, on each test, is required to pass. Necessary information can be found in the DDS Driver Manual. A Practice Test is available on the website at no cost.

The Knowledge Exam must begin at least 30 minutes before the Customer Service Center closes to allow adequate time for testing and issuance.

Road Rules Test

The Road Rules Test consists of questions about driver responsibility, knowledge of laws and safe driving practices, applicable to the class of license for which the applicant applied.

The Road Rules Test is available in some non-English Languages. See a list of all languages available for this Exam.

Road Signs Test

The Road Signs Test consists of questions about the meaning of standard highway signs. You will be asked to identify certain signs, signals and markers.

The Road Signs Test is in English only. All drivers must have the ability to read and understand simple English such as used in highway traffic and directional signs.

Non-Commercial Class E and F Exams (Previously known as Non-Commercial Class A and B)

Road Skills Test

All vehicles used for the Road Skills Test must be covered by liability insurance (you must show a valid insurance card), pass a safety inspection and if the vehicle is not equipped with turn signals you must know your hand signals.

You must present your vehicle registration and the tag (license plate) cannot be expired.

The Road Skills Test is in English only.

How do I schedule my road test?

You can schedule a road test by phone at 1-678-413-8400. Road skills tests are given by appointment only. There may be same day appointments available, please call 1-678-413-8400 for availability.

On the Road Skills Test you will be expected to do all or part of the following:

Parallel Parking: Park midway between two standards so that your car is not more than 18 inches from the curb.

Quick Stops: Drive at a speed of 20 miles per hour and make a quick, safe stop when the examiner instructs you.

Backing: Back your car for a distance of about 50 feet, at a slow rate of speed, and as straight and as smoothly as possible. Turn your head and look back at all times while backing.

Stopping for Signs or Traffic Signals: Give the proper hand or brake signal; approach in the proper lane; stop before reaching a pedestrian crosswalk; and remain stopped until you can move safely through.

Turnabout: Turn your car in a narrow space using two-, three- or five- point turns.

Use of Clutch: If your car has a standard transmission, you must shift smoothly and correctly.

Approaching Corners: You must be in proper lane and look in both directions.

Yielding Right-of-Way: Always yield right-of-way to pedestrians, motor vehicles, bicyclists or anyone else who moves into the intersection before you.

Turning: Get into the proper lane and give signal an adequate distance before reaching the turn.

Passing: Always look ahead and behind to make sure you can safely pass without interfering with other traffic.

Following: Do not drive too closely behind other cars. Watch the car ahead of you; when it passes some reference point, such as a telephone pole, and then count "one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two." If you pass the same spot before you are through counting, you are following too closely.

Posture: Keep both hands on the steering wheel. Do not rest your elbow on the window and do not attempt to carry on a conversation with the Examiner because they will be busy giving instructions and recording your score.

At the end of the test, the license examiner will gladly show you your score sheet and will provide you ample opportunity to discuss the test if you so desire. The applicant must achieve a minimum score of 75% to pass.

Retesting

Applicants who fail the Knowledge Exam or Road Skills Test must wait at least one day to retest.

Applicants who fail the Knowledge Exam or Road Skills Test a second or subsequent time (third, fourth, etc.) must wait at least 7 days to retest.

A 30 day waiting period to retest applies to an applicant who fails the Road Skills Test due to a traffic accident or traffic violation during the Road Skills Test, whether ticketed or not.

All retesting is subject to reservation availability.

The permit fee must be paid before the test begins. DDS accepts cash, money order, check or credit/debit cards.

Fees are not refundable and must be paid each time the test is taken.

The Motorcycle Rider Skills Test

Safe motorcycle riding depends largely on your knowledge and skills. The skills for motorcycling require a lot of practice. If you have just learned to handle a motorcycle and have very little riding experience, then the most important part of learning to ride is still ahead.

You can take a Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program rider education course that offers a driver's license test waiver for graduates. For more information about locations and schedules, visit www.dds.ga.gov/training. The Rider Skills Test (RST) is used for both two-wheeled (RST-2W) and three-wheeled vehicles (RST-3W).

Both tests consist of four riding evaluations that measure your control of the motorcycle and your hazard-response skills. The final two exercises involve speeds of about 15 miles per hour. Please see the Georgia Motorcycle Operator's Manual for more details about each evaluation.

You will be scored on time / distance standards as well as path violations. The test can be ended early for point accumulation, committing an unsafe act, or failure to understand or follow instructions.

When you report for your test, you should have:

An approved helmet and protective goggles.

For safety, it is suggested to wear long sleeves, long pants, gloves, and sturdy footwear.

You must furnish a street-legal motorcycle for the test and pass a safety inspection of the motorcycle by the driver’s license examiner before the riding test is given.

PLEASE NOTE: You have the right to cancel the test at any time. Inform the examiner that you do not wish to continue the test. The examiner will explain the conditions for taking the test later.

The examiner also has the right to stop the test if you:

Fail to demonstrate basic control skills;

Accumulate more than the maximum number of penalty points allowed;

Commit any unsafe act;

Fail to understand or follow directions;

Fall or drop the motorcycle.

If any of these instances occur, the test will be discontinued.

Finally, all testing can be suspended due to inclement weather, equipment failure or other circumstances beyond the control of you or the examiner.

90-DAY MOTORCYCLE DRIVER'S LICENSE TEST WAIVER

The State of Georgia will waive your knowledge and skills test and issue you a Class M driver's license if you have a 90-Day Driver's License Test Waiver issued by the Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program (GMSP). The Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program offers professional rider education programs that include classroom instruction as well as on-cycle training in a controlled, off-street environment. The Program even provides the training motorcycles.

Successful graduates become eligible for their motorcycle driver's license without having to take the Department of Driver Services' knowledge tests and on-cycle test (it does not waive the vision test or any fees and it is only valid for 90 days from the day the course ends). For more information, visit www.dds.ga.gov/training.

Students under the age of 18 who successfully complete the Basic Course MUST be at least 17 years of age BEFORE the 90-day waiver period expires to get their driver's license. They must also meet the requirements of Joshua's Law.